Blumenfield Joins Local Leaders, Activists to Discuss Future of LA Water

[The following information was taken from a press release issued by Bob Blumenfield's office].

Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield  joined local leaders and activists to discuss the role that stormwater supplies can play in the future Los Angeles’s water supply.

“Water is a resource that many of us take for granted,” said Blumenfield.  “It takes an incredible journey before we turn on the tap, especially here in LA.”

Today’s conference – The Future of Stormwater: Capture, Store, and Supply – was convened by Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana) and hosted by TreePeople, an environmental nonprofit that unites the power of trees, people and technology to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles.  Blumenfield joined the discussion about stormwater success stories and cited the TreePeople as an example for Los Angeles to emulate.

“Back when I was working for Congressman Howard Berman, we secured federal funds that helped TreePeople complete its Parking Grove as an alternative to the standard blacktop wasteland,” added Blumenfield.  “It’s more aesthetic with its trees and its more sustainable.  The parking surface is permeable so that rainwater can be collected and used for watering the landscaping.  It’s simple and logical.  And, it’s just one example of what we should be doing more of here in LA.”

The City of Los Angeles is moving away from imported water to supply its residents, which is changing perspectives on the potential of stormwater as a water supply. The City settled long-standing litigation over the environmental effects of its exporting water from the Owens Valley.  The Owens Valley reduced its contribution to the City’s supply from 90% to around 50%.  California agreed to reduce its diversions from the Colorado River, leading to Southern California suffering as much as a 50% reduction.  Finally, because of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s ecosystem decline, the State Water Project has reduced its exports substantially below its 2006 peak.  This reduced reliability of imported water has led many Southern California water agencies to increase investments in local water supply options, especially groundwater that can be recharged with stormwater.

“Los Angeles is an arid place and we can be even more efficient in how we use water,” concluded Blumenfield.  “Our rainwater management strategies of the past were based on flood prevention rather than efficient distribution.  Think of the LA River or the Sepulveda Basin.  Both were designed to control water during a flood and to rapidly channel it out of the city.  Tapping into these resources is a huge opportunity for LA.”

Further information about today’s hearing is available at http://www.treepeople.org/statehearing.